| Metropolis - November 21
"The Daily Planet: Bullseye kills Queen Bee and Asim Muhunnad. Here is what to know about the imprisoned killer of Joker."
"The Daily Star: Black Adam promises to deliver justice after a fair trial. Several people around the world volunteer to be Bullseye's lawyer."
"Gotham Gazette: Bullseye kills himself in prison with a cyanide pill. Gotham mourns."
"Gotham Globe: #BullseyeDidntKillHimself trending."
"Metropolis Eagle: What next for Greater Bialya?"
"Daily Planet: Black Adam becomes leader through emergency elections, winning the polls with over an 80% approval rate."
"The Star City Star: Black Adam says Greater Bialya will not participate in any war and will not allow foreign agents until it has stabilized."
"Central City Tribune: Black Adam on refusal to fight: 'War is death, and death is waste. A life should not be wasted while it may yet be controlled to serve a greater purpose.'"
"Blüdhaven Daily: Black Adam says everyone will feel it if war kills even one civilian of Greater Bialya."
"Metropolis Eagle: The president of the USA declines to enter the Middle East. What are the reasons for shifting ties to Israel?"
"The Globe: Justice League declines to comment on Greater Bialya."
"Gotham Gazette: Black Adam promises to eliminate all terrorist organizations within the borders."
"Keystone City Gazette: Tensions cooling in the Middle East—is this the calm before the ocean?"
"Metropolis Eagle: Surge in countries purchasing LuthorBots."
"Daily Planet: Why is the value of BellCoin rising?"
"The Coast City Ledger: Is the future of warfare meta?"
"The Globe: Are China's Great Ten and Russia's Rocket Red Brigade enough without LuthorBots?"
"Luthor News Network: Due to positive reception, LuthorCorp will begin construction of more meta academies. The first confirmed new site is Japan, called Ultra Academy."
"The Daily Star: The Powerpuff Girls are now Metropolis's official heroes."
"LuthorCorp releases Gotham Theft Auto. Shatters multiple records in the gaming industry."
Joseph, lying on his couch at home, casually scrolled through the news stories on his iPhone.
Things were progressing well, and public opinion was being guided the way he liked—partly because he owned most of the news outlets.
He didn't even need to control the narrative in the affected region. The people of Bialya and Qurac loved Black Adam, and the military that had enforced the previous regime's control feared and respected him. Everyone could sense that change for the better was coming.
He had battled hordes of demons throughout the Middle East and saved many from natural disasters like earthquakes and floods during the Hour of Chaos. He was basically a god to them.
Only Western idiots outside the affected region were, without proof, claiming it was a U.S. psyop and grieving the deaths of two dictators—Queen Bee and Asim Muhunnad.
As for the League, they were waiting to decide if they should intervene. A meta had never taken control of a country in such a fashion, and they didn't want to overstep and make nations think they were above the law and could depose rulers as they pleased.
They would probably send the Team soon to investigate discreetly.
"Oh, come on!" Jason yelled from another couch at his Game Boy screen.
"Don't you want to do anything else? It's Sunday, and you haven't done anything but play on it. Don't you want to hang out with your friends or something? Cass is at her friend's house for a sleepover. You can do the same if you want."
Jason sighed, depressed. "The only person I hang out with is Eddie, but he's an idiot who watches too many gangster movies." Then Jason booted up a new game. "It's all fine anyway. I've always been a loner."
That wouldn't do. This kid was a bit too young to be in his edgy phase.
"You know, I know another orphaned black-haired, blue-eyed kid who is coincidentally eager to make friends with people his age."
"Nah, I'm good. Sounds awkward," Jason replied.
"You don't get a choice, buddy," Joseph said before opening a blue Boom Tube in the living room. "You can go play with him now."
Jason looked stunned. "You can make portals!? What other abilities do you have?" he asked excitedly, pausing his game.
"I mean, I know magic, so technically every ability is possible for me."
"What! Really? Then—"
"Enough questions," Joseph said before pulling the Game Boy out of Jason's hand with telekinesis and lifting him. He made Jason's shoes and red hoodie (he loved the color red) appear on him with a wordless chant and placed a wad of cash in his pocket with telekinesis. "I gave you a few bucks"—500 dollars. But he was sure Jason knew the importance of money from years of being a street kid. "I'll pick you up in time for dinner. Have fun now."
"At least give me a—hey, wait!" Jason yelled, but Joseph had already pushed him through the Boom Tube and closed it.
**
| Fawcett City - November 21
"-Wait!" Jason yelled, but he was pushed through without much fanfare. He emerged from the glowing portal and landed on the ground of an alley.
Jason banged his fist on the ground. That dastardly Joseph—forcing him to socialize and not giving him any cool powers or tech. Not even a gun.
Jason was meant to be a superhero, but Joseph was denying him his destiny. Oh, the injustice.
Whatever. Now that he was here, he might as well make the most of the time. He knew his wealthy brother—friend? guardian? whatever—wasn't stingy with money, so he could probably splurge if he wanted to. Not that he would. Who knew when he might need more?
"Do you need help?" a voice said, prompting Jason to look up.
A black-haired, blue-eyed kid around his age, wearing a white shirt and red jacket, stood at the entrance of the alleyway.
"Uh, sure," Jason said, and the boy helped him up. "Thanks."
Then they looked at each other awkwardly. 'Does he know?'
"Did you just come out of a portal?" the kid asked.
'He knows.'
Jason was about to deny it, but the kid was strangely calm. And he hadn't seen Joseph make a mistake yet, so he'd probably been teleported here on purpose—and the kid Joseph had been describing was probably this one.
"Uh, yeah," Jason replied. "Do you know a guy called Joseph?"
"Oh yeah! That explains it. I've never met another hero kid as young as me. Everyone I know is older and doesn't want to hang out. Do you wanna be friends? I'm Billy, by the way," Billy said, holding out his hand.
Jason was a bit confused. This kid was a hero? But he still took the hand. "I'm Jason. Know any fun places around? I'm new to the city," Jason said. This alleyway was too dirty to be Metropolis and too clean to be Gotham, so he knew he was in a new city.
"Sure thing. I've lived in Fawcett City my whole life," Billy said. "But for the more fun stuff, you'll need some money, and my Uncle Marv doesn't give me much pocket money."
"No problem. I can pay," Jason said.
"Really? Oh yeah, I remember—Joseph is loaded." That confirmed he was good, since he knew Joseph's identity. "How about we go to the McKeon History Museum, then hit an arcade?"
Museums weren't his definition of fun, but it could be interesting. He'd never been.
"Sure," Jason said with a smile and followed Billy.
Was making friends always that easy?
**
| Bana-Mighdall - November 21
Hermes looked down at the city in anger, its architecture an intriguing blend of ancient Greek and Arabic styles.
Over three thousand years ago, after the destruction of the Themysciran city-state by the armies of Herakles, a group of Amazons led by Hippolyta's sister, Antiope, renounced the Gods of Olympus to seek vengeance on the men who had tricked and vanquished their people.
The Amazons of Themyscira and the Olympian gods believed the group had perished at the hands of Theseus and his men and did not pursue the matter further.
But they had been wrong.
After Antiope's death, this "lost tribe" of Amazons settled in the deserts of Egypt, founding the city of Bana-Mighdall. There they remained for thousands of years, becoming an increasingly violent and bitter society of mercenaries, manufacturing weapons and trading them with the outside world.
Hermes had only discovered this because he had taken an interest in the new conflicts in the Middle East. The Sphere of the Gods could grow dull, and watching mortal conflict was… entertaining.
As the messenger god, he preferred receiving news quickly—and what better way to do so than by experiencing it firsthand?
But now he was angry—at their abandonment of the Olympian gods, their worship of others, and their misuse of Gaea's Girdle. Yet he could not directly destroy them.
The gods were bound by divine treaties and a cosmic compact. This was not a physical barrier, but an understanding: direct, overt interference often led to destructive wars with other pantheons or drew the attention of cosmic entities like the Presence or the Quintessence.
Though the gods were technically "not allowed" to rule or interfere with humanity directly, they were notoriously ego-driven and frequently exploited loopholes.
Hermes would borrow one of the methods his brother Ares favored—subtle manipulation, inciting conflict and chaos through mortal hands.
First, he would destroy the magical sandstorm barrier that protected Bana-Mighdall and concealed it from the world.
Then, he would incite those who bordered them—the Egyptian and Quraci militaries—to breach the city's borders. He wouldn't even have to try very hard.
The Amazons of Bana-Mighdall were violent mercenaries, little more than legend among the Arabs because they could never be found.
And having renounced their immortality upon leaving Themyscira, they chose to preserve their race by kidnapping men from surrounding regions. These captives were kept in breeding stables like animals, used only when needed. Male children were killed, while female children were raised in the increasingly brutal, war-driven culture of Bana-Mighdall.
The surrounding nations would not ignore what was done to their people.
The combined force of divine influence and human armies would be more than enough to obliterate the city—and soothe Hermes's wrath.
And to make sure the job got done well, he would send in the real Amazons.